Myrto Demopoulou

Myrto Demopoulou (479 BC-) was a wealthy Athenian woman during the 5th century BC. She had two children with her husband, and, in 431 BC, her husband was killed by the plague, and she feared that, if she died of the plague, her children would not be taken care of. She headed to the priest Panayiotis Xenos in Epidaurus for help, begging for him to ask the gods for assistance. The mercenary Kassandra, who brought back the heart of a sacred bull, was given the power to decide who would be prayed for. Myrto promised to pay Kassandra if she prayed for her, but Kassandra took pity on the sickly child Afroditi Rega and prayed for her instead, leading to Myrto sobbing and turning away.